Danio catenatus can be distinguished from all congeners except D. assamila, D. dangila, D. concatenatus, and D. sysphigmatus by produced first ray in pectoral and pelvic fins, large cleithral spot, and pattern of dark rings inclosing light interspaces on the side. It differs from those species by having round cleithral spot (vs. vertically extended in D. dangila), absence of anterior interstripe Ia (vs. present in D. assamila, D. concatenatus and D. sysphigmatus), round rings in three series along side, width of dark perimeter of about same width as diameter of light centre (vs. elongate in D. assamila and D. sysphigmatus, with narrower perimeter in D. sysphigmatus; two series and variably round or elongate in D. concatenatus), ring pattern extending onto caudal peduncle (vs. not extending onto caudal peduncle in D. assamila or D. sysphigmatus, and some D. dangila).